Double window construction



Nov. 19, 1935. H F x 2,021,179

90091111 wmnow coNsTRUcTIQN Filed Jan. 10, 1935 INVENTOR. doH/v H F'o/TORNEYS.

v 50 cemented to the glass sheets.

Patented Nov. 19, 1935 PATENT OFFICE DOUBLE WINDOW CONSTRUCTION John H.Fox, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to'Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company, acorporation of Pennsylvania Application January 10, 1935, flesh! No.1,170

The invention relates to a double glazing construction. It has for oneof its objects the provision of a double pane mounting which can be usedto advantage without the requirement for a sash which is thicker thanthe ordinary standard sash employed for windows using a single glass. Afurther object is the provision of a mounting or frame for the doublepane of light spring construction for insuring yielding pressure uponthe seal between the edges of the sheets, but which has at the same timea greater degree of strength and rigidity than the spring frame mountingheretofore proposed. A still further object is the provision of amounting permitting the sheets to move freely at their edges as they bowin and out under varying changes in atmospheric pressure.

Briefly stated this result is secured by the use of a U-shaped frame oflight spring metal, which grips the glass sheets inward a slightdistance from their extreme edges and is provided with a fin or rib thatis seated in the window sash and secured by glazing material, such asputty. This permits the use of ordinary sash regardless of the thicknessof the double pane and gives a unit in which the edges of the glasssheets are adequately protected against injury in handling and shipment.Certain embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevation on a small scale of the clamping frame forthe glass sheets. Fig. 2 is a section on an enlarged scale through theedge of the unit and the sash or casing in which it is mounted. Fig. 3is a section through the clamping frame before such frame is applied tothe glass sheets. Fig. 4 is a section through a modification. Fig. 5 isa section through the clamping frame employed in the construction ofFig. 4. And Fig. 6 is a section through another modification.

Referring to the drawing, l is a sash or frame provided with a shoulder2 and a groove 3 for receiving the edge of the unit which is to bemounted in the tfame. The unit as shown comprises a pair of glass sheets4, 4 provided with spacing and sealing means around the edges of thesheets, the spacing means preferably being in the form of the rubberstrips 5 which are space between the glass sheets is filled withdehydrated air and this air is maintained in dry condition due to theuse of the sealing members 5. Nitrogen or some other inert gas may besub- 55 stituted for the dry air.

In service, the

Extending around the edges of the glass sheets is the rectangular frameshown in Fig. 1, such frame being made up of the members 6, 8, 3 shownin cross section in Figs. 2 and 3. The members 6 are preferably ofrelatively light spring metal ,U-shaped in cross section comprising theflanges I, I, the base 8 and the rib 9 projecting at right angles to thebase. Before the frame or clamping member is applied to the glass, theflanges I, I are inclined toward each 10 other, as indicated in Fig. 3,but after the member is applied to the glass sheets, the flanges arebrought more nearly into parallelism, so that they apply yieldingpressure to the glass sheets and to the spacer 5. The pressure thusapplied 15 improves the seal between the spacer and the glass sheets andserves to hold the assembly securely together. After the four members 6are applied to the unit, they are soldered together along the lines "I(Fig. l) thus insuring against 20 displacement with respect to the glasssheet. In securing the sections of the frame together, a. solder isemployed having a low melting point in order to avoid injury to thespacing members 5 during the soldering operation. The rib 9 which 25projects from the base of the members 6 serves as a stiflener and alsoprovides a means for mounting the unit in the groove 3. This mounting ispreferably arranged, as indicated in Fig. 2, with a holding material ll,such as putty, filling 30 the groove and surrounding the rib on bothsides, thus providing a seal between the sash and the glazing unit. Theuse of the rib permits the unit to be mounted in a sash of ordinarythickness, such as would not be the case if the 5 edge of the relativelythick glazing unit were seated in the groove 3.

Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate a modification in which a different form ofspacer and a different form of clamping or frame member are employed. 40The spacers in this case consist of metal strips I2 which are U-shapedin cross section. The metal is relatively light and thin and is facedwith strips l3, l3 of sealing material of soft rubber or the like. Theframe members M are 45 formed from spring material bent into the shapeshown in Fig. 5 and having the inclined flanges I5, l5 and the ribmember IS, the latter performing the function of the rib 9 of the Fig. 3construction. The provision of the rib I6 of the form shown givesadditional resiliency to the members and may be cheaply formed by arolling operation. The mounting of the unit in the sash I is the same asin the construction of Figs. 2 and 3.

It will be noted that the spring U frame is formed so that it grips theglass sheets inward from their extreme edges, thus leaving such edgesfree to move in and out inside the frame. This is important undervarying atmospheric pressures as the danger of breaking the glass isminimized as compared with mountings in which the edges are clamped orheld rigidly so that a relatively heavy strain is imposed upon the glassalong the edge of the frame when the glass bulges in or out due toatmospheric pressure changes. This freedom of movement of the sheetedges is also promoted by the type of spacers shown. The round type ofspacer shown in Fig. 1 permits the sheet edges to move in freely,whereas a spacer of rectangular cross section would tend to prevent it.Similarly the spring U spacer of Fig. 3 also permits the same freedom ofmovement about the yielding upper portions of the flanges of the Usection.

Fig. 6 illustrates a further modification in which the clearance at thebase of the frame member H is provided by beveling off the edges of theglass sheets as indicated at l8 so that such edges are free to move inand out,as in the other constructions. The flanges of the frame memberare inclined toward each other before the application of the frame tothe glass so that the edges of the glass sheets and the seal (which issimilar to that of Fig. 4) are maintained under spring pressure.

What I claim is:

1. A window construction comprising a frame having a glazing groove, aglazing unit comprising two sheets of glass with spacing and sealingmeans between the sheets at the edges thereof, a mounting of springmetal of U cross section enclosing the edges of the sheets and providedwith a rib projecting from its base seated in said groove, and means forsecuring the rib in the groove.

2. A window construction comprising a frame having a glazing groove, aglazing unit comprising two sheets of glass with spacing and sealingmeans between the sheets at the edges thereof, a mounting of springmetal of U cross section enclosing the edges of the sheets and providedwith a rib projecting from its base seated in said groove, and sealingholding material in the groove on both sides of the rib.

3. A window construction comprising a frame having a glazing groove, aglazing unit comprising two sheets of glass with a yielding spacing andsealing means between the sheets at the edges thereof, a U-shapedmounting of spring material whose sides apply yielding pressure tothe'glass and provided with a rib projecting from its base seated insaid groove, and means for securing the rib in the groove.

4. A window construction comprising a frame having a glazing groove, aglazing unit comprising two sheets of glass with spacing and sealingmeans between the sheets at the edges thereof, a mounting of springmetal of U cross section enclosing the edges of the sheets and providedwith a rib projecting from the central portion of its base seated insaid groove, and means for securing the rib in the groove.

5. Clamping means for the edges of a multiple sheet glazing unitcomprising an open frame of spring metal of U cross section having a ribprojecting from its base at right angles thereto.

6. Clamping means for the edges of a multiple sheet glazing unitcomprising an open frame of spring metal of U cross section having a ribprojecting from its base at right angles thereto, and having the sidesof the section inclined toward each other.

'7. Clamping means for the edges of a multi ple sheet glazing unitcomprising an open frame of spring metal of U cross section having a ribprojecting from its base at right angles thereto, said rib being formedby bending the base downward into a pair of parallel flanges merging attheir outer edges.

8. A glazing unit comprising two sheets of glass with a resilientspacing and sealing means be tween the sheets at the margins thereofwhich hermetically seals the space between the sheets from theatmosphere, and a U-shaped mounting of spring material, the outerportions of whose flanges apply yielding pressure to the glass sheets inthe same plane at right angles to the sheets and in direct opposition tosaid spacing and sealing means, but which have the inner portions ofsuch flanges spaced away from the glass edges to permit freedom ofmovement thereof.

9. A glazing unit comprising two sheets of glass with a resilientspacing and sealing means between the sheets at the margins thereofhermetically sealing the space therebetween and engaging the glassinward of their extreme edges, leaving such extreme edges free, and aU-shaped mounting of spring material, the outer portions of whoseflanges apply yielding pressure to the glass in direct opposition toeach other and to said spacing and sealing means, but which have theinner portions of such flanges spaced away from the glass edges topermit freedom of movement thereof.

JOHN H. FOX.

